Surely you know someone with autism close to you, but you may not know it yet.
Did you know that 1% of the population is on the autism spectrum? Look around you, at work, on public transport, at the gym, at the park, at school. Autism is a reality in our world, and it is important to be aware of it in order to understand it better and provide support to those who need it.
The main needs of people with autism are linked to understanding the world and relationships with the people around them. These two concepts are called cognitive accessibility and social communication, respectively. Understanding these needs allows us to improve the spaces we move through so that they are clearer and simpler for people on the autism spectrum. Likewise, having a strong awareness of these needs helps us to implement strategies so that people on the spectrum can actively participate in all areas of society.
For example, using pictograms to label a space or schedules to anticipate activities as well as removing distractions are some ways to facilitate cognitive accessibility for people with autism.
To facilitate communication, it is important to use clear, simple and direct language adapted to a person’s linguistic capabilities. Also, it is important to use augmentative communication in the form of gestures, facial expressions or symbols to help convey a message.
If you know a person with autism, the best thing you can do is to take time to get to know them and understand how you can support them. After all, each person and the support they need is unique.
You should also know that people with autism can achieve amazing things. They have incredible persistence, which allows them to achieve important goals if we break down barriers in their environments. If you look carefully, you will be able to identify some of these barriers and help remove them, thus facilitating everyday life and personal growth of people with autism around you.
What can we do to help include students with autism in the classroom?
At Smile and Learn we are committed to equal opportunities for all students and that is why we take into account the different educational needs of all students on our platform. Our methodology is based on the combination of three elements that allow us to adapt to diversity: accessibility, specific educational content and personalization based on the needs of each student.
That is why we offer specific activities designed to strengthen the cognitive, emotional and academic skills of children with autism. This way, they are able to work in the classroom using the same tools as their peers, which allows them to participate on equal terms and feel included in the group.
Autism does not have any distinguishing physical traits associated with it, so we may know someone on the spectrum and not know it. That is why at Smile and Learn we also encourage you to work on understanding, tolerance and respect towards people on the autism spectrum in the classroom.
If you haven’t tried our educational platform yet, you can do so through the following link.
